KARACHI, April 6: The City Nazim, Niamatullah Khan, on Wednesday announced that a public women university would be established by merging two spacious government women colleges, on the Stadium Road. He said the Ra’ana Liaquat Ali Khan College of Home Economics and the Khatoon-i-Pakistan Girls College, two big colleges, which existed side by side, would be merged and upgraded for establishing a university. Work in this direction would be initiated at the earliest, he said.
Speaking as the chief guest at the closing ceremony of the golden jubilee celebrations of the RLAK College of Home Economics, Mr Niamat said after taking over as the city nazim he had a vision for a women university. After giving serious thoughts to the long standing demands of students and teachers, it had been decided that there should be a women university in the public sector, he said.
Amid the clapping of students, the nazim pointed out that the home economics programme would further be strengthened and developed as a separate faculty under the new university as well.
Talking to Dawn, the city nazim said that authorities concerned would be moved for the grant of charter for the proposed university, while funding would not be a problem.
“We have already done many big jobs and intend not only to provide funds for the university from the city government’s exchequer, but would arrange for that from other sources as well,” he said in reply to a question.
The constructed portion of both the colleges in question is spread over a total area of about 44 acres, while the number of students enrolled in intermediate, degree and masters classes is around 6,000.
Speaking at the function, Mr Niamat said he understood that education in home economics subjects held significance today, and that it helped students manage families and communities. “It is an extract of all sciences and a combination of different technologies and skills required to develop a home and a family.”
He said people held the younger generation as the future of Pakistan, “but, I say they are the Pakistan of the future, and they should be brought up in this perspective.”
He said he was confident that Pakistani students would give a practical shape to the dreams of the Muslims of the subcontinent, he added.
Earlier, the principal of the RLAK College, Dr Rubina Hakim, said the college since its inception in 1955 had been contributing to national development through empowerment of women, and strengthening of families and fostering optimum human resources development.
She noted that in addition to funding by the government, the role of philanthropists and industrialists had been of a great deal in developing libraries, auditorium and laboratories.
Giving suggestions, she said home economics related material should be introduced from the early classes in school; it should be made a part of the community education; and research-oriented programmes should be undertake in it, leading to PhD.
Different group leaders, including Zeenat Sultan, Shagufta and Shabana Pervaiz Sandhia, while submitting their recommendations, stressed the need for reviewing and upgrading the syllabi of home economics; introduction of industry based solutions of problems in courses; separate laboratory for textile and clothing; maximum use of computers for designing of products; enhancing students’ knowledge in different topics through seminars, symposia and special lectures by subject experts; inclusion of skills that could be used as cottage industries; and community oriented programmes and courses of short duration.
It was also emphasized that teachers and students of home economics be given due recognition by government agencies and institutions, particularly in the field of healthcare, diet, food services, human ecology and designing.
The concluding function was attended, among others, by Fatima Surayya Bajiya, Prof Rais Alvi, Naseem Siddiqui, Prof M Asghar Khan, Mian Abdul Majeed, Feroz Abdullah, Khalida Hafeez, Shireen Shahzad, Farhat Kaleem and Hamida Jilani.
In the meantime, about 45 people were awarded shields at the appreciation ceremony for their dedicated and diligent services, and generosity in the development of the college as a prestigious institution.
The shields were handed over to founders, pioneers, torchbearers and supporters by Prof Anita Ghulamali, who also shared the memory of many of the recipients with the audience and remarks, which made the ceremony a nostalgic event.
Those who were awarded in person or otherwise, included Begum Ra’ana Liaquat Ali Khan (her award was received by Begum Tazeen Faridi), Late Mrs Henry Lal (the college’s first principal), Prof Salma Zafar, Dr Zahida Amjad Ali, Saeeda Baqar Khan, Prof Salma Badruddin, Dr Mehrunnisa Ahmad, Yasmeen Minhas, Prof Razia Bashir, Rohana Iqbal, Shireen Shahzad, Prof Zubeda Meraj, Aquila Zaman, Maryam Khan, Saeeda Sabir, Aisha Arshad, Mushahid Hussain, Mohsina Farooq, Ismat Zuhra, Badrunniasa, Afzal Samiullah Khan, PV Darogha, Queen Sirikit of Thailand, Ambassador Mansoor Alam, Abdul Majeed, Feroze Abdullah, Adeeba Yazdani, Taranum Zuberi and Fareeha.
